GRANITE CITY — An attempt by Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler to take over two seats on the Granite City Regional Wastewater Treatment Board was delayed while the issues are sorted out.

Among the issues involved is a larger conflict between Granite City and other entities using the wastewater treatment facility over fees.

Prenzler is attempting to appoint himself and County Administrator Doug Hulme to two seats on the board currently occupied by Madison County Board Member Kristen Novacich, D-Granite City, and Brenda Roosevelt.

Roosevelt, a Glen Carbon Democrat, had served on the Madison County Board for 10 years before deciding not to run for reelection in 2016.

Madison County Director of Administration Steve Adler, who is also a member of the wastewater board, said Roosevelt was no longer a county board member, and Novacich was never appointed by either Prenzler or former Madison County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan.

Also in question is whether members can be replaced before their four-year term is up.

In the meantime, the board, which sets rates for the Granite City Wastewater Treatment Facility, has put off discussion of its upcoming budget for 30 days.

The treatment plant handles wastewater for Granite City, Glen Carbon, the Metro East Sanitary District and Madison County’s Special Service Area 1. The board includes representatives of all those entities. Novacich and Roosevelt represent the Special Service Area.

At the start of the meeting, Board Member Leo Konzen questioned the seating of Prenzler and Hulme. Granite City Mayor Ed Hagnauer, who was officiating the meeting, allowed a recess for the wastewater board’s attorney, Brian Konzen, and Prenzler’s attorney, Don Weber, to confer.

After about 20 minutes they came back with an agreement to move ahead with the meeting, with Novacich and Roosevelt voting, but to delay action on the budget.

Prenzler said he would check on the legalities of the appointments.

“It’s our position we’ve already replaced them,” Prenzler said after the meeting. “We’d like to provide oversight to this organization. We have to resolve this issue of who is representing Madison County.”

Novacich and Roosevelt left immediately after the meeting and were unavailable for comment.

Hagnauer said the question on members must be worked out by the county. He said the agreement between the four entities specifies four-year terms for appointments, adding the legalities must be worked out at the county level.